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Louise Dickinson Rich (1903–1991)

Teoksen We Took to the Woods tekijä

26+ teosta 1,288 jäsentä 21 arvostelua 6 Favorited

Tietoja tekijästä

Tekijän teokset

We Took to the Woods (1942) 557 kappaletta
Happy the Land (1946) 61 kappaletta
My Neck of the Woods (1950) 59 kappaletta
Sally (1970) 57 kappaletta
The Peninsula (1958) 52 kappaletta
Star Island boy (1968) 47 kappaletta
The First Book of the Vikings (1962) 35 kappaletta
State o' Maine (1964) 32 kappaletta
Only Parent (1953) 32 kappaletta
The First Book of the Fur Trade (1965) 18 kappaletta
Innocence Under the Elms (1983) 16 kappaletta

Associated Works

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Jäseniä

Kirja-arvosteluja

Originally published in 1942. "Discontent is only the fear of missing something. Content is the knowledge that you aren't missing a thing worth-while." (p. 322) I guess that depends on how you've lived your life according to YOUR own standards.

This is my first read of 2019, and I can tell you now that it will be one of my top reads of the year. Louise Dickinson Rich is a very visual writer, and she can sure tell some stories. I love her sense of humor. Not once did I get bored, nor did I begin to count the pages.

On page 142, she wrote something here that caught my attention and just might explain the attitude of so many unhappy youths, even adults, of today, speaking of her son: "I want him to know what he's fighting for-and Freedom and Democracy won't mean a thing to him, unless they are all tied up with memories of things that he has loved..." Today's youth do not have exciting, fond memories of adventure or memories of things that they loved. Their heads are down and distracted by rotten politics and electronics, meanwhile, the beautiful day outside is passing them by. I love how she describes all the distractions around us as "static". That was back in 1942. Today, with cell phones, Internet, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and electronic games, and even today's politics, all vying up most our time on this earth, we have created a level of "static" in our lives that is uncomprehensible, and it’s making people mentally unstable. This includes adults as well. I get it! I'm part of this group so distracted by all the "static" around.

Documenting every aspect of our lives, prevents our minds from taking in all the fine beautiful things taking place all around us, and just creates a sense of selfishness. We snap that picture so we can instantly share to everyone and to say, “Hey, look at me! Look what I am doing!” Our memories are now in the memory card of our cameras. They weren't captured fully with our minds and our soul because we had a motive for taking that picture...to show the world how important we are. No deep memorable moment to sustain us like Louise's memory and full description of that one beautiful morning seeing the sun behind a blackbird that lighted on the water just in front of her:

"We sat down on the shore to assemble our tackle, and a shelldrake came flying in from the east, not seeing us at all. The sun was behind it, and as it spread its wings and tail to break for a three point landing almost in our laps, the delicate rib of every feather was silhouetted black and single, and the down along the ribs was gold and translucent. We could see how wonderfully and intricately it was made. Spray flew up like a fountain of jewels as it plowed the water. It was a bird of fire, coming to rest among diamonds and emeralds." (p. 284)

That one day on B Pond was anything but miraculous. It was an experience that could only be captured in one’s own eyes and sealed in their soul, not in a camera. Sure, today, we would have snapped a picture of a black bird that landed in the water in front of us, but missing all the little fine details of that landing because we were busy snapping that picture to show everybody on Facebook.

There are a couple of recipes I am interested in trying, just to see how they really ate out there in the woods, and to get the full experience out of reading her story. Instructions for her Baked Beans are on page 113-4, which require all day, slow cooking in the oven, with water added about every 30 minutes. And her Raspberry Shortcake Recipe with full instructions can be found on page 162.
… (lisätietoja)
 
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MissysBookshelf | 10 muuta kirja-arvostelua | Aug 27, 2023 |
 
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Mustygusher | Dec 19, 2022 |
Galen recommended
Read to page 129

Enjoyable but detailed and slow-paced. Her voice is fresh and clear despite the original publication date of 1942!

Quotes

I think the difficulty with people who can't follow printed directions for knitting or anything else is that they try to understand them. (47)

I do believe in the malevolence of the inanimate, and of all inanimate objects, stones are the most malevolent. (119)
 
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JennyArch | 10 muuta kirja-arvostelua | Oct 5, 2022 |
The quirkiest and most charming history/guide to Maine that I have ever encountered! I adore my home, the whole of Maine, and I discovered so many bits of history and places that I haven't yet explored. The author has clarity, instinct and some fair amount of opinionated sass. Here's a quote (from section on Bath) to make you want to go out and find this book (somewhat challenging, I found my copy at Merrill's locals): "Nowadays the ships are usually christened with a bottle of champagne. In the early days it was rum, the common beverage on all social levels, distilled locally on Winnegance Creek. Rum continued to be customary until the dreary days of national prohibition, when the distraught builders had to look for a suitable substitute. They hit upon Poland Spring Water, as at least being of Maine origin. This strikes me as a sorry and emasculate travesty of a once robust and symbolic ceremony. Poland Spring Water indeed! Some day when I have nothing better to do, I'm going to check on the records of some of the ships launched under this feeble auspice. I'll bet none of them ever amounted to much." I wonder if she ever did pursue this idea...Anyway, if you love Maine seek this one out!… (lisätietoja)
 
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Martialia | 1 muu arvostelu | Sep 28, 2022 |

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Teokset
26
Also by
2
Jäseniä
1,288
Suosituimmuussija
#19,904
Arvio (tähdet)
½ 4.3
Kirja-arvosteluja
21
ISBN:t
35
Kuinka monen suosikki
6

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